ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Contamination of fish in the Great Lakes generated three surveys assessing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) serum concentration in Michigan anglers: 1973 to 1974, 1979 to 1982, and 1989 to 1991. This cohort provided 1177 individuals with PCB determinations. In 2000, we conducted telephone interviews with parents on their children’s birth characteristics. We estimated the sex odds ratio for parental PCB and dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene concentrations using generalized estimation equations. We identified 208 offspring, within 101 families, born after 1963, with paternal measurements of both PCB and dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene. When controlling for maternal exposure and parental dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene, the sex odds ratio was increased if paternal PCB concentrations exceeded 8.1 &mgr;g/L (sex ratio, 2.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.11 to 4.74). Thus, paternal exposure was linked to a higher proportion of male offspring. These findings are opposite those reported for the Seveso study and are in accordance with those for dioxin exposure in the American veterans study.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Workforce productivity has become a critical factor in the strength and sustainability of a company’s overall business performance. Absenteeism affects productivity; however, even when employees are physically present at their jobs, they may experience decreased productivity and below-normal work quality—a concept known as decreasedpresenteeism. This article describes the creation and testing of a presenteeism scale evaluating the impact of health problems on individual performance and productivity. A total of 175 county health employees completed the 34-item Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-34). Using these results, we identified six key items to describe presenteeism, resulting in the SPS-6. The SPS-6 has excellent psychometric characteristics, supporting the feasibility of its use in measuring health and productivity. Further validation of the SPS-6 on actual presenteeism (work loss data) or health status (health risk assessment or utilization data) is needed.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The long-term impact of corporate health and wellness programs is largely unknown, because most evaluations focus on impact in just 1 or 2 years after program initiation. This project estimated the longer-term impact of the Johnson & Johnson Health & Wellness Program on medical care utilization and expenditures. Employees were followed for up to 5 years before and 4 years after Program implementation. Fixed-effects regression models were used to control for measurable and unmeasurable factors that may influence utilization and expenditures. Results indicated a large reduction in medical care expenditures (approximately $224.66 per employee per year) over the 4-year Program period. These benefits came from reduced inpatient use, fewer mental health visits, and fewer outpatient visits compared with the baseline period. Most benefits occurred in years 3 and 4 after Program initiation. We conclude that programs designed to better integrate occupational health, disability, wellness, and medical benefits may have substantial health and economic benefits in later years.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Brainstem auditory evoked responses and audiological thresholds were used as biomarkers for neuro-ototoxicity in adults with chronic lead (Pb) intoxication from long-term Pb exposure in ceramic-glazing work. Venous blood samples collected from 30 adults (15 men and 15 women) indicated a mean blood Pb level of 45.1 &mgr;g/dL (SD, 19.5; range, 11.2 to 80.0 &mgr;g/dL) and in excess of the World Health Organization health-based biological limits (men, 46.2 &mgr;g/dL; SD, 19.6; range, 18.3 to 80.0 &mgr;g/dL; women, 44.0 &mgr;g/dL; SD, 20.1; range,11.2 to 74.2 &mgr;g/dL). Mean auditory thresholds at frequencies susceptible to ototoxicity (2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 6.0, and 8.0 kHz) revealed sensory-neural hearing loss in men, which may be attributable to occupational noise exposure in combination with Pb intoxication. Bilateral brainstem auditory evoked response tests on participants with elevated blood Pb levels (mean, 47.0 &mgr;g/dL) showed delayed wave latencies consistent with sensory-neural hearing impairment. The results suggest that environmental noise exposure must be considered an important factor in determining sensory-neural hearing status in occupationally Pb-exposed adults.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This study determined the reliability and validity of a self-administered occupational health history questionnaire. Reliability was evaluated using a test-retest study design based on 123 volunteers (56% participation rate) who were administered the questionnaire approximately 1 month apart. Validity and general acceptability was evaluated in a clinical setting through in-depth clinician interviews of 25 patients. The interviews assessed patients’ understanding of and sensitivities to questions and degree of adherence to initial responses after discussing questions with clinicians. All but one question related to repetitive motion exposures showed 84% or higher agreement. Clinician interviews of patients indicated that most questions were well understood, although some patients misinterpreted questions regarding pregnancy history, repetitive motion, and immunization history. Overall, our results suggest that the questionnaire is highly reliable, valid, and acceptable to both clinicians and employees.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

A 1-year study was performed to evaluate discharge from therapy and return-to-work outcomes from rehabilitation services offered at four occupational medicine centers for work-related musculoskeletal injuries. The mean number of visits before discharge from therapy for 699 patients was 45% less than a national benchmark (mean visit number, 5.7 ± 4.2 vs 10.5 ± 9.1;P< 0.001). Return-to-work outcomes at discharge from therapy showed that 94% had returned-to-work. A telephonic satisfaction survey failed to identify client complaints associated with therapy. Assuming that reduced visit numbers would be reflected in a proportionate decrease in lost workdays, the program saved employers approximately $1.4 million, or $2000 per client. The authors attribute the improved outcomes to early therapy using active rather than passive techniques and an emphasis on patient education and home exercise programs.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The pulmonary function test (PFT) alone may be inadequate for predicting work-related exercise capacity in patients who file workers’ compensation claims for respiratory limitation and compensation. Two hundred sixteen ambulatory patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (forced expiratory volume in 1 second = 54.1 ± 16.8% predicted) were administered the PFT and cardiopulmonary exercise test, and the results were analyzed by categorical statistical comparison, based on standard medical impairment classifications. Sixty-five patients (30.1%) were similarly classified by the two methods. Of the remaining patients, 132 (61.1%) were found to be less impaired according to the cardiopulmonary exercise test than according to the PFT, and 19 (8.8%) were more impaired according to the PFT. The results favor the use of the cardiopulmonary exercise test for the routine evaluation of respiratory impairment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, particularly for patients with mild or moderate impairment revealed by the PFT. The large discrepancy between the two procedures emphasizes the need for a novel approach.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The aim of this study was to examine whether signs of neurotoxic influence on the autonomic nervous system, after lengthy occupational lead exposure, could be revealed by appropriate cardiac rhythm analysis. A total of 109 male lead-exposed workers and 27 controls were examined in a cross-sectional study. In addition, 17 lead-exposed participants were investigated a second time in a follow-up study 4 years later. Heart rate variability was assessed in rest, strain, and recovery phases. In the cross-sectional study, lead-exposed persons showed a delayed restoration of cardiac rhythm parameters to the initial vegetative state after the strain phase. This effect significantly increased over a period of 4 more years of exposure in the 17 workers participating in the follow-up study. We found vagal depression caused by long-term lead exposure within the current threshold limit value range, which can be interpreted as an adverse effect.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID